Grain beater and cleaner.



N0- 829,600. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. R. R. GASKILL, DECD. A. A. PETERS, ADMINISTRATOR. GRAIN BEATER AND OLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904.

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No. 829,600. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

R. R. GASKILL, DEGD. A. A. Pawns, ADIINISTRATOR.

GRAIN BEATER AND CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED 119.29. 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR A. PETERS, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ADMINISTRATOR OF ROLAND R. GASKILL, DECEASED.

GRAIN BEATER AND CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed August 29, 1904:. Serial No. 222,516.

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. PETERS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, am the administrator of the estate of ROLAND R. GASKILL, deceased, late a citizen of the United States, and who was the inventor of certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Beaters and Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The invention relates to improvements in grain boaters and cleaners, the object being to provide a device more especially adapted for use in connection with elevators or other establishments where grain is stored .in large quantities and in such condition that its quality or market value can be raised by cleaning.

By the use of the invention the grade of grain of this character may be considerably raised and its price correspondingly increased and at comparatively small expense, since the improvement has great capacity as compared with the power expended in its op eration.

It is well known that grain when first threshed contains more or less loose dirt and also considerable chaff which has not been entirely separated from the grain. It also contains weed-seeds and other foreign matter, which, as before intimated, reduces its market value.

The improved apparatus is adapted for use in separating the clinging chaff from the grains and removing the said chaff, together with all other forms of dirt or foreign matter which may be mingled with the grain.

Having briefly outlined the improved construotion, as well as the function it is intended to perform, the same will now be described 7 in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an elevation viewed from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4, 5 5 Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a trap employed for catching the middlings preparatory to their return to the beatercylinder for retreatment.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable supporting-frame upon which is mounted a casing 6, which will be termed a cylinder, though it is not exactly cylindrical in shape, since its vertical diameter is somewhat more than its horizontal diameter. Through this cylinder passes a shaft 7, provided with beater-arms 8, located at suitable intervals, the said blades being arranged to advance the material entering through an inlet 9 .at one end of the cylinder, whereby it is discharged at an outlet 10 at the opposite end of the cylinder. The outlet 10 is at the bottom of a hopper 11, located below a riddle 12, having an opening 13 directly above the hopper. This riddle 12 rests on a roller 14, journaled in a receptacle 15, into which the upper end of the riddle projects. The ma- 8o terial to be treated is discharged into this upper end of the riddle upon a plate 16 and the feed is controlled by a gate 17, which is vertically adjustable in the receptacle 15. This riddle 12 is downwardly inclined from the receptacle 15 and is provided with upper and lower screens 18 and 19, composed of suitable mesh material, the upper screen 18 being coarser than the lower screen 19. The lower screen terminates just above the opening 13 in the riddle, whereby the material which reaches this lowerscreen all passes into the hopper 11 and thence into the beater-cylinder 6, where it is acted on by the beater mechanism, heretofore described. 5 The upper screen 18 extends the entire length of the riddle from the receptacle 14 and lies in the same plane as the plate 16. The material which passes through the screen 18 above the opening 13 and which 7100 does not pass through the screen 19 of course, all passes to the cylinder 6, while that which passes downwardly beyond the opening 13 is supposed to be worthless material and passes over the extension-plate 20 and thence into a 10 5 waste-conduit 1. The material which passes through the screen 19 is supposed to be thoroughly clean grain and passes through an opening A in the bottom of the riddle and 'material to be treated in the beater-cylinder passes, as heretofore explained.

The riddle 12 is given a longitudinally-re ciprocating or vibrating movement through the instrumentality of a pitman 21, leading from the crank 23 of a crank-shaft 22, its extremity remote from the crank being connected with the bottom of the riddle, as shown at 24. The lower extremity of the riddle is supported by two leaf-springs 25, which are of sufficient flexibility to allow the necessary vibratory movement to cause the riddle containing the separating-screens to properly perform its function.

One extremity of the beater-shaft 7 protrudes from the frame and is provided with two pulleys 26 and 27, respectively. The pulley 26 may be connected with any suitable power (not shown) for rotating the beater-shaft. The pulley 27 is connected by means of a belt 28 with a pulley 29, fast on a shaft 30, ournaled in the frame, as shown at 31. The extremity of the shaft 30 remote from the pulley 29 is provided with a pulley 32, from which leads a belt 33 to a pulley 34, fast on the crank-shaft 23, which is also provided with pulleys 35 and 36. From the pulley 36 leads a belt 37 to a pulley 38, fast on the shaft 39, journaled in the upper extremity of an elevator 40, whose lower extremity communicates with a chute 41. This elevator is of ordinary construction, and the carrying mechanism thereof need not, therefore, be explained in detail. From the pulley 35 a belt 42 leads downwardly to a pulley 43, fast on a shaft 44, journaled in the framework and provided with arms 45, constituting an auxiliary beater located in an expansion-chamber 46 ust below the opening 47 of a vertical suction leg or passage 48, provided with an opening 48 formed in its lower part and registering with the lower extremity of the chute 10, whose lower portion is downwardly inclined, whereby the material after passing through the cylinder chamber 6 passes down through the chute 10 and into the lower part of the passage 48. This suction leg or passage 48 is provided with an overhanging top 48" and a part 48, hanging Between the lower extremity of the part 48 and the top of the adjacent wall 48 of the suction-leg is the opening 47, through which the material drawn upwardly by suction through the leg 48 is discharged, the clean grain passing downwardly through an opening in the bot' tom of the leg into the pit, while the chaff and middlings are drawn upwardly by suction, the chaff and waste material being discharged from the machine through the instrumentality of the suction-fan, while the middlings are being continually returned for retreatment. Below this auxiliary heater is located a chamber 49, in which the grains or berries of the material under treatment are trapped, this trap-chamber having a downwardly-inclined bottom and being closed by a door 50, which is normally held in the closed position by its gravity and the suction produced by the fan 57, hereinafter described in detail. When, however, a suflicient quantity of grain has accumulated in the trap-chamber 49 to overcome the normal tendency of this door to close, the door opens outwardly and allows the material to pass downwardly into the chute 41, which is downwardly inclined and communicates with the lower extremity of the elevator 40, by which it is carried upwardly and discharged into a chute 51 outside of the riddle 12 and downwardly inclined emptying into the hopper 11, which projects outwardly on one side of the beater-cylinder sufliciently for the purpose. (See Fig. 4.)

Hence this material passes downwardly through the hopper-outlet 9 into the beatercylinder and is again acted on by the heaters therein, whereby any remaining chaff that may have adhered to the berries or kernels of the grain is loosened. After this material has passed again through the beater-cylinder it passes a 'ain downwardly through the chute 10 an into the suction leg or passage 48, when the operation is repeated as before.

Above the auxiliary heater in the chamber 46 is a passage 52, communicating with a suction drum or chamber 53 by way of an opening 54 between the drum 53 and the chamber 46. his opening 54 is controlled by a gate 55, mounted on a spindle 56, journaled in the casing 46 and provided at one extremity with a handle 57, located outside the casing of the chamber, whereby the said gate may be adjusted as desired. In the drum 53 is located the suction-fan 57, which is made fast to one extremity of the beater-shaft 7. This fan is provided with blades 58 and rotates with the beater-shaft in such a manner as to produce a suction from the chamber 46 through the opening 54. This drum 53 is provided with an outlet-opening 59, through which the chaff or other light material drawn into the said chamber is discharged.

In the upper part of the beater-cylinder 6 is located a longitudinal bar or projection D, which cooperates with the rotary beaterarms to perform the beater function. When the heater is running at a speed of six hundred and fifty revolutions per minute, the

thrown to the surface of the cylinder, in

IIO

-in proportion to bul lr which case the bar D, connected to the inside of the upper half of the cylinder, is called into profitable requisition, in that it breaks the continuous rotation of the grain to the surface of the cylinder, causing it to fall back and receive greater agitation from the beater-bars.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of the improved apparatus will be readily understood. The material to be treated is first discharged upon the plate 16 of the vibrating riddle 12, and the chafi or light worthless material passes downwardly over the screen 18 and is discharged from the machine, as heretofore explained. The material which passes through the screen 18 drops upon the screen 19, and the clean grain passes through the last-named screen and passes downwardly through the opening A, and thence into the box B, and finally into the chute 0, While the material which does not pass through the screen 19 passes into the hopper 11 and thence through the outlet 9 into the beater-cylinder 6, in which the beater function is performed through the instrumentality of the rotating beater-arms with which the interiorly-projecting bar D cooperates. The material in the beatercasing 6 is advanced from the left toward the right, referring to Fig. 3, to the chute 10 and passes thence downwardly into the suction leg or passage 48. The grains that have been completely separated from the chaff in the beater-chamber will fall downwardly to the bottom of the passage 48 and pass therefrom through an opening E into the pit below or any suitable receptacle, while all grain not free from forei n matter, being lighter as compared with clean grain, is lifted by suction and comes in contact with the auxiliary beater and will fall downwardly into the trap 49, while the chaff and other worthless material will be drawn upwardly through the passage 52 and thence through the opening 54 into the drum 53 by the fan 57, and thence expelled from the drum through the opening 59. The material which falls downwardly into the trap 49 will grad ually accumulate in weight and overcome the tendency of the door to remain closed, this tendency being the result of gravity and the suction produced by the fan 57. As soon as the weight of the grain is sufficient the door opens outwardly and the grain drops into the chute 41, after which the door closes. By means of this peculiar construction and arrangement the discharge from the trap 49 is intermittent. The material which enters the chute 41 passes to the elevator 40 and is carried upwardly thereby and discharged into the chute 51 and passes. downwardly into the hopper 11 and thence into the beater-cylinder 6 for retreatment. The movable parts of the apparatus are actuated from the pulley 26 on the beater-shaft, the

latter being connected with any suitable power, as heretofore explained. The rotary motion of the auxiliary beater 44 45 is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3 and is such as to have a tendency to throw the material which passes through the opening 47 downwardly, whereby the heavy material which it is desired to save is caught in the trap 49, while the chaff and other light worthless material is carried upwardly by the suction and discharged from the machine, as heretofore explained.

Attention is called to the fact that the expansion-chamber 46, with which the upright passage 48 communicates at its upper extremity, allows the air to expand as it passes from the said passage into the said chamber, thus reducing the force of the air-current and allowing the heavier material which was drawn upwardly through the passage 48 to settle into the lower part or trap of the said chamber, while the light worthless material continues its upward movement through the expansion-chamber. Hence the last-named chamber performs an important functionnamely, of effecting a separation between the worthless material and a grade which may be termed middlings, for the reason that it is carried back to the riddle for 'retreat'ment in a manner heretofore explained. The auxiliary beater located within the expansion-chamber cooperates with the said chamber in the performance of the separating function. The overhanging top 48 together with its depending part 48, projecting above the outer wall of the passage 48, also cooperate with the expansion-chamber in the performance of the separating func-' tion, since the parts 48 and 48 check the upward movement of the material and cause it to drop downwardly into the expansionchamber, whereby it is acted on by the auxiliary beater 44 45.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. The combination of a stationary beatercasing provided with an interior longitudinal projection in its upper portion, a shaft passing therethrough, beater-arms mounted on the shaft, a suction-chamber in which one extremity of the shaft protrudes, suctionproducing means located in the suctionchamber and connected with the said shaft, an upright passage, means for connecting the upright passage with one extremity of the beater-casing, the upright passage being provided with an opening near its upper extremity, and an expansion-chamber, the suction-chamber also being in communication with the expansion chamber remote from the upper extremity of the upright passage, one wall of the upright passage be ing higher than the opposite wall and provided with a top overhanging the outer wall and projecting into the expansion chamber,

an outlet for the grain in the bottom of the upright passage, an outlet for the lighter grain in the expansion-chamber and an outlet for the chaff in the suction-chamber.

2. The combination of a stationary beatercylinder provided with an interior longitudinal projection in its upper portion, a rotary shaft passing through the said cylinder, beater-arms mounted on the said shafts and adapted to advance the material from one extremity of the casing to the other, a vibratory riddle communicating with one ex tremity of the beater-casing, whereby the material to be treated is delivered from the riddle to one end of the casing, an inclined outlet-passage connected with the other extremity of the beater-cylinder, an upright passage with whose lower extremity the passage leading from the beater-casing co1nmunicates, a casing surrounding the upper part of the said passage and forming an expansion-chamber with. which the upper extremity of the passage communicates, the said passage having a top protruding into the saaeoo expansion-chamber above the communicating opening between the passage and the chamber, an auxiliary beater located in the expansion-chamber in the vicinity of the opening between the last-named chamber and the said passage, a suction-chamber located at the discharge end of the beaterchamber and into which one extremity of the beater-shaft protrudes, suction means mounted on the said shaft and located in the suction-chamber, the suction-chamber having an opening communicating with the expansion-chamber remote from the upper extremity of the upright passage, and a door for regulating said opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR A. PETERS, Administrator of the estate of Roland R. Gas

kill, deceased.

Vitnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DENA NELSON. 

